Intergovernmental Coordination in Crisis Governance

The Role of Pro-Defence Organizations in Polish and Lithuanian Responses to the Russia-Ukraine War

Abstract

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has reshaped the security environment of Eastern Europe and highlighted the importance of civil-military cooperation. This paper aims to identify how the Lithuanian government coordinates actions with pro-defence organizations with particular attention to the efficiency and effectiveness of such collaboration. The Lithuanian case will be compared with Polish regulations and practices in order to highlight similarities, differences, and potential gaps. The analysis then extends to the sphere of Polish-Lithuanian cooperation in defending the eastern border of the European Union and NATO, a frontline region of strategic importance. The ultimate goal is to find examples of good practices and patterns that can serve as models for effective functioning of state-civil society cooperation in crisis conditions. By combining Lithuanian and Polish experiences, the study contributes to a broader understanding of resilience-building in the face of hybrid threats and conventional military aggression.